Salvia plant named &#39;FLAMMEN&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Salvia  cultivar named ‘FLAMMEN’ is disclosed, characterized by a long inflorescence, large individual flower size and early flowering. ‘FLAMMEN’ is highly floriferous and has an upright plant habit. The new variety is a  Salvia,  normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Salvia jamensis

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘FLAMMEN’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Catherine Bernabe, a citizen of France. The objective of the breeding program was to produce highly floriferous plants of Salvia jamensis in a variety of colors. Plants of the unpatented variety Salvia jamensis were self-crossed during the Summer of 2001, at a commercial nursery in Henansal, France. The new variety was discovered in the Summer of 2003, at the same commercial nursery by the inventor, Catherine Bernabe, in a group of seedlings resulting from that crossing.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘FLAMMEN’ by vegetative cuttings was performed at the same commercial greenhouse in Henansal, France in 2005 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations. All plants of ‘FLAMMEN’ have been kept confidentially at the nursery in Henansal, France, with the exception of those supplied for Plant Breeders' Rights testing in Spring of 2009. Plant Breeders' Rights were applied for in April of 2008, however, there has been no commercial distribution or access to the variety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘FLAMMEN’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘FLAMMEN’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘FLAMMEN’ as a new and distinct Salvia cultivar:

-   1. Long inflorescence. -   2. Large individual flower size. -   3. Early flowering. -   4. Upright plant habit. -   5. Highly floriferous.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘FLAMMEN’ are similar to plants of the parent, Salvia jamensis unpatented, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘FLAMMEN’ producer larger flowers than the parent variety, with longer inflorescence. Additionally, flower color of the new variety is darker and brighter than the flower color of the parent variety.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘FLAMMEN’ can also be compared to Salvia microphylla. Plants of ‘FLAMMEN’ are similar to plants of Salvia microphylla, unpatented, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘FLAMMEN’ producer larger flowers, with longer inflorescence. ‘FLAMMEN’ also flowers earlier than Salvia microphylla, and produces overall more flowers and more inflorescence than Salvia microphylla.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘FLAMMEN” grown outdoors, in an approximately 2 liter pot. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 30 weeks from a rooted cutting. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘FLAMMEN’ plants grown outdoors at a commercial nursery in Henansal, France. The growing temperature ranged from 8° C. to 28° C., day and night. The nursery area is un-shaded, giving bright, normal sunlight conditions. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Salvia jamensis ‘FLAMMEN’ -   Propagation: -   Time to initiate roots: About 10 days at approximately 20° C. -   Time to produce a rooted cutting: About 20 to 25 days at 20° C. -   Plant: -   Plant spread: Approximately 45 to 50 cm. -   Growth rate: Moderate, approximately 50 cm during a growing season,     reaching a mature height near 60 to 70 cm after one year. -   Length of primary lateral branches: Approximately 30 to 35 cm from     stem to just under the inflorescence -   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 0.25 cm -   Quantity of lateral branches: About 35 to 40. -   Stem:     -   -   Color.—Young: green yellow Near RHS 147B. Oldest: greyed             orange 175A.         -   Texture.—Smooth, non-pubescent. -   Internode length: Approximately 3.5 to 4.5 cm. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 30 weeks from a rooted cutting     in early spring -   Foliage: -   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—opposite.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 12 to 16 per main branch.         -   Average length.—Approximately 3.5 to 4.5 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 1.7 to 2.0 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—oval to elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Attachment.—Stalked.         -   Margin.—Slightly crenate.         -   Texture of top surface.—Glossy.         -   Pubescence.—light on top face, non on underside.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow green 144A             Young foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow green 146B Mature             foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137A Mature foliage under             side: Near RHS Green 137B.         -   Venation.—Type: pinnate Venation color upper side: Near RHS             yellow green 148B Venation color under side: Near RHS yellow             green 144A.         -   Petiole.—Average Length: Approximately 1 to 1.5 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 0.1 cm. Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green             148B. -   Flower: -   Natural flowering season: May to November -   Inflorescence type and habit: Flowers arranged in verticillasters on     spikes. -   Flower longevity on plant: 8 days. -   Quantity of flowers: About 8 to 10 buds and 6 to 8 fully opened     flowers per lateral branch, at one time; or about 35 to 40 blooming     spikes per plant. -   Inflorescence size:     -   -   Diameter/width.—Approximately 5 to 6 cm.         -   Height.—Approximately 16 to 20 cm. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—0.5 to 0.6 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Purple 187A.         -   Orientation.—Approximately 10 degree angle from stem.         -   Strength.—rigid. -   Petals:     -   -   Petal arrangement.—fused flower-cup with 2 lips.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Tip shape.—Obtuse.         -   Length.—lower lip: 3.4 to 4 cm upper lip: 3.2 to 3.3 cm.         -   Width.—lower lip: 1.7 to 1.9 cm upper lip: 0.4 to 0.5 cm.         -   Petal quantity.—2 fused with 3 highly minimized.         -   Texture.—Matte.         -   Aspect.—Curved.         -   Petaloids.—Less than 0.2 cm in length and width. -   Color:     -   -   Petals.—When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS Red 53B             Lower/upper? surface: Near RHS Red 53B Fully opened: Upper             surface: Near RHS Red 46C Lower surface: Near RHS Red 46D. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—elongated cylinder.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.4 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Purple 183A. -   Sepals:     -   -   Shape.—Quantity per flower: 3.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.3 to 1.5 cm.         -   Width.—Fused at base, Approximately 0.4 cm at point of             separation.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Purple 183A with mottling             Yellow-Green 148D. -   Reproductive organs: -   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—2.         -   Filament length.—Approximately 1.5 cm. -   Anthers:     -   -   Shape.—small stick.         -   Length.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow 4D.         -   Pollen.—Color: Near RHS Yellow-Orange 17C Quantity: Scant. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—1.         -   Length.—Approximately 3.1 cm.         -   Style.—Length: Approximately 2.8 cm Color: Near RHS Yellow             11B.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Color: Near RHS Red-Purple 58B Ovary color:             Near RHS Yellow 11A. -   Other characteristics: -   Seeds and fruits: 4 spherical seeds per flower, each less than 0.1     cm in diameter. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     pathogens and pests common to Salvia have been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures     between 5 to 35° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant named ‘FLAMMEN’ as herein illustrated and described. 